23. Kneeled by Mother's Feet

Josh was frantic. 

He couldn't answer anything. His voice suddenly disappeared as if swallowed by a complicated life dilemma. It was as if his entire body was swallowed by quicksand with thousands of leeches eating away at his body.

His current situation was really difficult. Being forced to choose between the interests of his family and his feelings for Sharon, was like telling him to commit suicide. There was nothing he could choose. There was nothing he could prioritize over the others. Everything was important to him.

That's why he kept in touch with Sharon despite agreeing to break up with her. He had done everything he could. He was even willing to spend a lot of time making plans and being more careful so as not to get caught by anyone.

But Min Jinah was really a surprise. 

He hadn’t thought of her at all, as his mother had never mentioned her. He believed it was all over since the incident from years ago had been resolved and faded over time.

He suddenly felt incredibly naive and foolish for thinking that Min Jinah had only blackmailed her family once.

"I just want you to have a good life. With a woman who is worthy and equal to you. Is it that hard to ask you to obey my simple wish? That you dare to break an agreement with your own mother?"

The woman's head shook. Her hand suddenly massaged her throbbing forehead.

She was indeed angry. But as a mother, she personally had hopes and disappointments if something bad happened to her own flesh and blood.

"You need to remember that I'm not just doing this for our family. But also for you. You have the great advantage of bonding with the Song family. Am I wrong, or am I right, Josh Lim?" Her question was deeply emphasized. “I really don't know what to do anymore since you've ruined everything.”

The woman realized she had rambled on too much.

Meanwhile, the concerns voiced by her youngest son had yet to be answered by her. Because she herself wasn't sure how to keep Min Jinah from making Josh's scandal reach anyone's ears—especially her in-laws.

"Regarding the Song family... I will take care of it. As much as I can. But in exchange, I'm asking you to behave. I want to emphasize that I'm not messing around with our agreement."

Josh suddenly panicked.

"Mom. Please forgive me. I promise I won't do it again. I'll break things off with Sharon. But please-please don't hurt her. I beg you."

Her mother's eyes narrowed in displeasure, "You always say the same thing. You also said and made similar promises to me before. But what did I get? You broke your own promise and lied to me. It's as if you chose that bitch over your mother who gave birth to you and gave you everything."

Josh was getting more panicked. He knew he was wrong. He readily admitted that he was guilty of deceiving his mother and breaking the silent agreement.

But he also couldn't let Sharon suffer the consequences of his careless actions. Damn it. He really regretted and blamed himself for not being able to prepare everything better and more thoroughly so that he could still hide his relationship safely. Without obstacles, and difficult to uncover.

Josh, who could no longer evade or even think of other ways to survive his mother's sanction, acted recklessly. At the very least, he had to get her forgiveness.

Immediately, without thinking, he stood up and kneeled by his mother's feet. Both his hands rested on his own feet and his face looked down deeply.

"I beg you. I'm sorry, Mom. This time I promise to keep our agreement. I will make it right. I will truly obey your wishes. But—“ again, his breath caught in his throat, ”but, please let Sharon go. She has nothing to do with what I did. I was the one who decided yesterday to keep in touch with her secretly. So please, please..." His voice trembled.

His mother looked at him with pity mixed with disgust. She knew Josh's character more than anything. The experiences that had happened to her son over the years were enough for her to judge at a glance how her youngest son's eyes had been blinded by that one bad girl.

She had already made threats, but in reality they were just taken for granted and ended up being lied to for the umpteenth time by Josh. There was no other way, except to threaten Josh with something that he was really afraid of so that he would really be willing to leave and break up with Sharon—without doing any more tricks.

But in what way, the woman herself couldn't think of yet.

She would probably come up with a plan after this. To make sure that the relationship that she had worked so hard to build to tie the knot between the Lim and Song families was preserved without a scratch. Especially the cheap scandal with Sharon.

“I'll think about it,” his mother finally said, "Either forgive you and give you a chance to mend, or... outright ruin that slutty girl's life—if you're still trying to get in touch with her. Or if I simply feel like it. I'm sick of both of you, you know?"

Josh swallowed his saliva with difficulty. He remained kneeling, his head bowed, trying to show how serious he was about his regret.

“But in exchange for your lies, what will you do to make up for it?”

Josh's forehead wrinkled. He knew he wasn't in a position to negotiate—but he did it anyway, all while apologizing. Which leads to uncertainty. The only option he had at the moment was to beg for forgiveness. And ease his mother's anger, even if just a little. That was all he could do.

"Anything. I will do anything for you."

His mother smiled.

Then, for a moment, she fell into deep thought—searching for something amusing, something that would keep her youngest son away from that parasitic girl.

"I heard you guys postponed your honeymoon? Just because of your company's project launch next month?"

Josh blinked. Then replied softly, “Yes.” He knew. He could guess what his mother was about to say next.

"Go immediately, I'll have Assistant Yoon take care of it for you. I'll also ask your grandfather to send his people to help with your project. No need to think about work. Just focus on your own wife."

Josh almost launched a protest from his mouth. But he resisted with all his might and replaced it with a weak nod.

“As long as you promise not to hurt Sharon.”

His mother exhaled harshly, "Sharon, Sharon, Sharon! Why is there only that rotten girl in your head? Do you really want to kill your own mother?!"

"I only dare to ask for that. The rest I will obey you completely. Please, Mom," he said in a trembling but forced tone. He felt that he had to do everything she could to protect Sharon.

"I already told you. I’ll think about it later. I'll decide whether you're serious about keeping our agreement. If you break it again, if I get upset about something else... maybe I won't waste any more time," then as if remembering something, her mother opened her mouth again. "Ah. I'll also check if your reason for meeting with your manager is true, or also a lie."

For this one, Josh could conclude that Jason did not know that he was with Sharon at the restaurant this afternoon. He could exclude Jason from being a potential threat to him.

"Mom, I did meet with my manager. But—afterward... I met with Sharon... and..."